“Plans to create a technological university for the southeast have hit a new setback. While Waterford Institute of Technology and IT Carlow are preparing a joint bid to merge and become a technological university, staff at Carlow voted down the latest step in this process …” (more)

“A blip on the journey to creating a technological university for the South. That’s how the President of WIT has described the rejection by TUI members in IT Carlow of proposals to progress the process. The WIT branch endorsed the proposed Memorandum of Understanding by 92.7% but the IT Carlow Branch rejected it by 60% …” (more)

“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of borrowing, underwriting and guaranteeing activities notified to him under the borrowing framework provided for in section 38 of the Universities Act 1997 for each university since the institution of the framework in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

“Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane has commended staff at WIT for their overwhelming support to move the Technological University of the South East a step closer. He said the extensive engagement between staff and management at the institute was constructive and has delivered a very strong outcome …” (more)

“Minister of State Mary Mitchell O’Connor says she is waiting for the application from WIT and IT Carlow, for a technological university in the South East. The application for Munster Technological University, was submitted yesterday. It looks likely to become the country’s second technological university after TU Dublin, which was established in January …” (more)

“The focus on creating a ‘university of international standing’ in this region remains high on the agenda of Waterford TD and Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member David Cullinane (SF). Speaking to The Munster Express in the wake of the PAC’s examining a special report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) into the sale of Feed Henry, a spin out company of TSSG, to Red Hat for €63.5m, Deputy Cullinane said his eyes remained fixed on the establishment of a Technological University …” (more)

“Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have criticised the lack of authority that public bodies have over third level education institutions. Fianna Fáil TD Marc McSharry told the PAC that major deficits exist ‘in the overall oversight of education, in particular at third level’ …” (more)

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): We will now deal with item No 8 on today’s agenda, which is the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Special Report 104, which deals with Waterford Institute of Technology in respect of the development and disposal of intellectual property in FeedHenry. The Comptroller and Auditor General is joined by Shane Carton, deputy director of audit …” (more)

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): In this session we will examine the Comptroller and Auditor General’s special report No 103 on the handling of remuneration for certain senior staff in the University of Limerick and Institute of Technology Sligo. We have also requested an update on the implementation of Dr Thorn’s Independent Review of Certain Matters and Allegations Relating to the University of Limerick …” (more)

“A full review of University of Limerick student records system could cost up to €20 million, TDs were told at the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) this Thursday. The Limerick Leader revealed earlier today that concerns have been raised over whether potentially thousands of students were given incorrect exam records over many years …” (more)

“The president of University of Limerick (UL) has played down concerns that hundreds of students may have received incorrect exam results over a period of many years. The Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday heard of serious concerns over the reliability of UL’s student records system …” (more)

“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the merger process between Carlow Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

“Sinn Féin member of the Public Accounts Committee David Cullinane TD, said today that the University of Limerick must engage with the outstanding issues affecting its reputation, adding that the PAC will not be moving on. Deputy Cullinane said: …” (more)

“Secretary General of the Department of Education has told the Public Accounts Committee that it is examining ways to recoup money from higher education institutions where breaches of governance have been identified. Seán Ó Foghlú was appearing before the committee following a special report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) published last November …” (more)

“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the decision to intervene in a Workplace Relations Committee ruling regarding staff at Waterford Institute of Technology who were not moved onto a higher lecturer’s scale despite the fact that their colleagues were moved up the scale (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

“The Minister for Education says the HEA is liaising closely with Waterford IT and has agreed a financial plan to bring the institute back into a balanced budget. The audited accounts for 2015/16 show WIT has a significant accumulated deficit of €4.4m. The draft accounts for last year and projections for next year continue to show an operating deficit which will further impact on the institute …” (more)

“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to advance a technological university of the south east; the stage at which the process is at; the next steps; the costs associated with the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consultancy firms commissioned to carry out work associated with the development of technological universities by his Department, the HEA and each institute of technology, by institute; the name of the consultancy firm; the costs associated and the work involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): We are joined again by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, who is a permanent witness to the committee and Ms Colette Drinan, deputy director of audit at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. We are meeting representatives from the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority, HEA, to discuss the Higher Education Authority’s financial statements for 2017 …” (more)

“A legal review of the Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) powers to undertake investigations and reviews in third-level colleges has held up a report on spinout companies at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) that was due out a year ago …” (more)